“Artemis Fowl, once self-proclaimed teenage criminal mastermind, now prefers the term juvenile genius.”

From Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian.

Through therapy, Artemis Fowl has finally been able to overcome his dangerous, magic-induced Atlantis Complex, but his interaction with the fairy world is far from over.  When Holly Short of the fairy Lower Elements Police contacts Artemis for immediate help, he and his bodyguard, Butler, go right away to help Holly.  Upon their arrival, the two humans quickly learn that the danger is once again being caused by the evil pixie, Opal Koboi, in her attempts to free herself from custody and take over the world.  In a terribly risky plan, Opal orchestrates a time paradox which launches both the fairy and human worlds into a technology dark age.  Opal also opens a portal near Artemis’ home which results in the magical spiritual possession of Artemis’ mother and younger brothers.  Artemis, Holly, and Butler return to the earth’s surface to fight Opal, but things continue to go wrong and they find themselves forced to work with the thieving dwarf Mulch Diggums. Faced with danger on every front, it is up to Artemis to find a way to release his possessed family members, close the portal, and stop Opal from destroying the world.  The young genius will need every experience from his intertwined past with the fairy world, both noble and ill-intended, to bring peace and safety to the human and fairy worlds.

The eighth book in the Artemis Fowl series is also the last book in the series before Colfer’s spin-off Fowl Twins series.  Longtime fans of the series will experience a bittersweet response to a book that is captivating, but also the end of a much-loved series.  As with all the previous books, The Last Guardian features adventure, thrills, mystery, and magic to create an unforgettable story that brings the series to a satisfactory conclusion.